Colombia has agreed to waive diplomatic immunity on two men wanted for questioning about the murder of a man outside a west London supermarket.

Damian Broom, a 23-year-old warehouseman and father-of-one, died of stab wounds outside a Tesco store on the A40 at Greenford in May.

Two Colombians attached to the embassy in London have since claimed diplomatic immunity after Scotland Yard detectives sought to question them over the death.

I regret the delay, which has not helped the police investigation and has caused further distress to Mr Broom's family

Denis MacShane Foreign Office Minister

The Colombian ambassador to London contacted police on Thursday evening to confirm that diplomatic immunity had been waived.

Scotland Yard said in a statement: "We are in discussion with the Colombian Embassy in connection with the submission of a Colombian national to a London police station on September 27, in connection with the murder of Damian Broom."

Foreign Office minister Denis MacShane said: "I welcome the decision following representations made to the highest level of the Colombian government.

"However, since first making the request in the days immediately following the incident, we have repeatedly pressed Colombia for such a decision.

"I regret the delay, which has not helped the police investigation and has caused further distress to Mr Broom's family."

Family informed

He added: "As we have made clear all along, diplomatic immunity in no way absolves those entitled to it from their duty to obey the law in this country and to co-operate with police investigations."

Mr Broom's family has been told of the development.

Prime Minister Tony Blair raised the issue with Colombian President-elect Alvaro Uribe during a visit to Downing Street in July.